Telescopic mast with underground storage



NOV. 22, 1966 A w, K ET AL TELESCOPIC MAST WITH UNDERGROUND STORAGE Filed April 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l ITi-E- TIE-4- 4/ 5 m-5-,rm-a- 6 I? m m-arI'TE-Z- INVENTORS! ARTHUR I I T 1700K.

.ATTYS.

NOV. 22, 1966 w, C K ET AL 3,286,682 I TELESCOPIO MAST WITH UNDERGROUND STORAGE Filed April 13, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 TIE-12- I 23 I f 20 25 S 5 s 5 55 5 7 INVENTORS UR 14/. 000K. AHTIZTESSEF 500K.

5; rr-i-ll- @WQL United States Patent 3,286,682 TELESCOPIC MAST WITH UNDERGROUND STORAGE Arthur W. Cook, 822 Roosevelt St., and Jesse F. Cook, 568 Harrison Ave., both of Lima, Ohio Filed Apr. 13, 1964, Ser. No. 359,349 7 Claims. (Cl. 116--173) The present application is a continuation-in-part of our copending application, Serial No. 228,369, filed October 4, 1962, now abandoned.

The present invention relates to a telescopic mast with underground storage; and more particularly to a telescopic flag pole, all portions of which, except the flag, can be stored beneath grade.

An object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved, strong, inexpensive telescopic mast having telescoping sections of a continuous annular cross section to provide maximum strength, and means for holding' the sections in the extended position which means comprises pins that extend through a pair of small aligned holes in the inside telescoping member, so that the members will not be appreciably weakened by the means used for locking the sections in their extended position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved telescopic mast comprising a plurality of telescoping tubes or members the largest one of which is adapted to be permanently located below grade, and the other members of which are arranged so that any one of the remaining telescoping members can be easily grasped to raise the telescoping member and those contained therein.

A more particular object of the invention is the provision of a telescopic mast of the above described type wherein the second largest tubular member which slides in and out of the permanently fixed largest tubular member can be grasped to raise it and all of the remaining tubular members as a group, the second lowest section can be locked in place to cause the upper end of the remaining sections to be located at a convenient working height, and the remaining members can be sequentially raised to their extended positions starting with the most inwardly positioned member so that all of the pins can be put in locking position when at a convenient working level.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved telescopic mast wherein each of'the telescoping sections are of an identical length, and means are provided which allow any one of the members to be easily grasped and withdrawn from the member in which it is telescoped.

Another object of the present invention is theprovision of a new and improved telescopic mast wherein each of the sections are made of identical length and are adapted to be locked in their extended position by the pin which passes through aligned openings in the inner member of each telescoping action, and which pin is connected to the other member of the telescoping connection by means of a non-rigid attaching member, such as a chain, which serves to support the pins in a convenient location when not in their locked positions, and which further act as a handle by means of which the tubular member to which it is attached can be pulled out of the tubular member which slidingly receives the member to which it is attached.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved telescopic mast in which-each of the sections are of identical length and in which the bottom of one telescoping member is provided with an inwardly extendingprojection against which the bottom of thetelescoping member received therein is adapted to ice abut to cause the top of the inner member to project out of its receiving member when in a telescoped position.

A still more particular object is the provision of a new and improved telescopic mast having locking pins with recess means therein into which one of the telescoping members is forced by the weight of the section of the mast above the pin to prevent withdrawal of the pin.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a new and improved telescopic flag pole and a mast of the above described type wherein the halyard is of such a length that its bottom end can be engaged by one of the locking pins, and the locking pin is of an L-shape which is locked when one of its legs is turned downwardly to secure the bottom end of the halyard.

The invention resides in certain constructions and combinations and arrangements of parts, and further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of several preferred embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view in elevation of a telescopic'fiag pole in its extended position with portions broken away to better illustrate its construction;

FIG. 2 is a side view in elevation of the telescopic flag pole shown in FIG. 1 in its completely retracted position, certain portions being broken away to better illustrate its construction;

FIG. 3 is a plan view taken from the position indicated by the line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG 4 is a sectional view taken approximately on the line 44 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a side view of one of the locking pins shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an end view of the locking pin shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the bottom locking pin shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the locking pin shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a side view of the locking pin that is located at the top of the telescoping section which projects above grade;

FIG. 10 is an end view of a locking pin shown in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a side view in elevation, similar to FIG. 1,

but showing still another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 is a side view in elevation similar to that of FIG. 2 but showing the flag pole of FIG. 11 in its telescoped position;

FIG. 13 is an isometric view of one of the locking pins shown in FIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary, isometric view showing the top of one of the telescoping members shown in FIGS. 11 and 12; and

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary, isometric view showing the bottom end of one of the telescoping members shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

The telescopic flag pole shown in FIG. 1 generally comprises .a cast cup shaped housing 20, the upper end of which 21 is enlarged to receive a cover 22 which will usually be located at grade. The flag pole shown in FIG. 1 also includes a plurality of telescopically engaging tubular members, the largest one 23 of which has its upper end threaded into the bottom 24- of the cup sh alpe d housing 20. The bottom end of the tubular member 23 is slotted and bent inwardly to generally close off the lower end of the tubular member 23 and at the same time limit the extent to which the second largest tubular member 25 can be telescoped into the tubular member 23. The telescopic flag can be provided with any desired number of tubular sections 26 which will extend above the second largest tubular member 25 to provide any desired height of mast. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 the sections 26 comprise three tubular members 27, 28 and 2-9, the lower section 27 of which slides into the section 25, the section 28 of which slides into the section 27, and the section 29 of which slides into the section 28. The upper end of the inner tubular member 29 is closed off by means of a casting 30 having a depending pin 31 inserted into the .upper end of the tubular member 29. The casting 30 has a laterally extending ear '32 having a horizontal hole 33 therethrough through which the halyard for a flag or other flexible tension member can be inserted and attached. All of the tubular sections are of a continuous annular or cross section devoid of any vertical slot or separation so that they will have a maximum of strength.

In order that the tubular members can be locked in their extended positions by inexpensive means which does not weaken the tubular members, the present invention utilizes pins which extend through aligned openings in the inner member of each pair of telescoped members. The openings are round so that stresses will be transferred around their edges without undue stress concentration, and the openings are generally small so that a minimum of metal is removed and the tubular members are not appreciably weakened.

The tubular members 23, 25 and 27 through 29 are made of sections of aluminum tubing, and this tubing can be purchased with outside diameters and inside diameters which will provide approximately 4 /z-tho usandths of an inch clearance between the respective tubular members. -By Way of example, the bottom tubular member 23 has an 1%" OD. and a wall thickness of .058, so that it provides 4 /2-thousandths of an inch clearance with respect to tubular member 25 which has an outside diameter of 1%". The tubular member 25 also has a wall thickness of .058" so that it provides a sliding clearance of 4 /2-thousandths of an inch with respect.

to tubular member 27 which has an outside diameter of 1". The tubular member 27 also has a wall thickness of .058" so that it provides 4 /z-thousandths of an inch clearance with respect to tubular member 28 which has an outside diameter of Vs"; and the tubular membe .28 also has a wall thickness of 0.58" so that it provides 4 /2-thousandths of an inch clearance with respect to the tubular member 29 which has an outside diameter of %1". The sections of the tubing from which the various tubular members are cut come in standard commercial lengths of 12 feet. In order that there will be no wastage of material, each Olf the 12 foot lengths are cut into lengths which are even fractions of 12 feet. For convenience, the 12 foot sections are cut into even lengths of 4 (feet.

As previously indicated, it is an object of the present invention to provide a structure wherein all of the tubular members, excepting the largest member that is fixed below grade, can be raised either individually or together as a group and locked in place when their upper ends are located at a height that is convenient for a standing person. As previously stated, each of the tubular members 23, 25, and 27 through 29 are of the same length. In order that individual tubular members or a group of tubular members can be grasped and raised to the above referred to position wherein further manipulation can be accomplished by a person in standing position, each of the tubular members are caused to project approximately 1" out of the tubular member in which it is slidingly received when the tubular members are in their telescoped position shown in FIG. 2. This is accomplished by means of suitable abutments located adjacent the bottom end of each of the tubular members. The bottom end of the tubular member 23 is swedged inwardly to form an abutment for the tubular member 25. Each of the tubular members 25, 27 and 28 have identical projections 34 spaced 1" upwardly from their lower ends so that the lower end of the tubular member which is received in the member having the projection bears against the projection to cause the upper end of the inner member to extend approximately 1" above the upper end of the outer member having the projection.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the projections 34 are formed by providing a pair of parallel vertically extending slots in the bottom end of one of the tubular members and bending the metal between the slots radially inwardly to torm the projections 34. In the retracted telescoped position shown in FIG. 2 therefor, the bottom end of tubular member 25 rests upon the swedlgeld section of the tubular member 23, the bottom of tubular member 27 rests upon the projection 34 of tubular member 25, the bottom Olf tubular section 28 rests upon the projection 34 of tubular member 27, and the bottom of tubular section 29 rests upon the projection 34 of tubular member 28. The upper end of each of the tubular members, therefore, project out of their receiving tubular members by a distance of -1", as shown in FIG. 2.

As previously indicated, the telescopic flag pole structure shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, will usually be mounted so that the top of the cover plate 22 will be even with grade. A gasket 35 is positioned between the cover plate 22 and upper flange portion 36 of the cup shaped housing 20 and is sealingly clamped in position by a plurality of machine screws 37. When it is desired to raise the flag pole structure, the machine screws 37 are loosened and the cover member 22 removed. Thereafter the mast structure is raised by grasping the top of the tubular member 25 to raise it and all of the tubular members contained therein to a raised position. A pair of aligned openings, not shown, are provided through the tubular member 25 approximately 8" up from its bottom end, and when these openings are above the top of the bottom 24 of the cup shaped housing 20, a pin 38 shown in detail in FIGS. 7 and 8, is started through one of the openings in the tubular section 25. Thereafter the tubular section 27 is raised upwardly until its bottom end clears the openings in the tubular section 25 and the pin 38 is inserted through the opening in the opposite sidewall of the tubular member 25 with the middle flat 39 of the pin 38 facing downwardly. The tubular member 25 is thereafter allowed to slide downwardly until the middle flat 39 rests upon the upper end of the tubular section 23 to support the tubular members in a position wherein the upper ends are approximately 4 feet above grade. The middle flat 39 does not extend to either opposite end of the pin 38,

so that a pair of oppositely facing shoulders 40 is provided which can abut opposite sides of the top of the tubular member 23 and prevent the inadvertent removal of the pin 38.

With the upper end of the remaining tubular members at a position approximately 4 feet above grade, the upper tubular member 31 is raised relative to the tubular member 28 until a pair of openings, not shown, approximately 8 above the bottom end of the tubular member 29 appear above the upper edge of the tubular member 28. Thereafter, the headed pin 41 is inserted through the aligned openings in the tubular member 29 and the tubular section 29 is thereafter allowed to move downwardly until the pin 41 rests upon the top edge of the tubular section 28. The upper end of the tubular member 28 is deformed outwardly as indicated at 42 to receive the head 43 of the pin 41 and thereby prevent the removal of the pin 41 from the tubular member 29. Thereafter the tubular member 28 is raised relative to the tubular member 27 until a pair of openings, not shown, approximately 8" above the bottom end of the tubular member 27 appear above the top edge of the tubular member 27 and a pin 41 is inserted through the aligned openings.

The top of the tubular member 27 is deformed in the same manner as was the top edge of the tubular member '28 to prevent inadvertent removal of the pin 41 from the tubular member 28. The final step in raising the flag pole, shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is accomplished by elevating the tubular member 27 out of the tubular member 25 until openings, not shown, approximately 8" above the bottom end of the tubular member 27 appear above the top edge of the tubular member 25. Thereafter an L- shaped pin 44 is inserted through the aligned openings of the tubular member 27 and the tubular member 27 is allowed to slide downwardly until the pin 44 engages the top end of the tubular member 25. The horizontal leg of the pin 44 has a middle flat 45 that extends less than half-way through the horizontal leg of the L-shaped pin, and which middle fiat rests upon the top of the tubular member 25. The middle flat 45 forms a pair of oppositely facing shoulders 46 which abut the opposite sides of the tubular member 25 when the handle or lateral leg 47 of the pin 44 is turned downwardly. With the mast in its fully extended position the bottom end of a halyard extending through the opening 33 can be secured beneath the L-shaped pin 44 to hold the halyard taut.

The embodiment of flag pole structure shown in FIGS. 11-15 of the drawings is generally similar to that previously described and differs principally therefrom in the manner in which means are provided for grasping and withdrawing the various tubular members from the member in which it is slidingly received. Those portions of the embodiments shown in FIGS. 11 through which are similar to corresponding portions of the embodiment described above are designated by like reference numerals characterized further in that a prime mark is affixed thereto. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 11-15, L-shaped pins 48 are used for holding the upper three sections 29', 28' and 27 in their extended positions. The pins 48 have handle portions 49, the ends of which are milled as at 50 and an opening 51 is drilled therethrou-gh toreceive one end of a chain 52. The other end of the chain 52 is fastened through an opening 53 (best seen in FIG. 14) in the deformed portions 42'. The L-shaped pins 48, therefore, are therefor retained by the chains 52 at a convenient location hanging from the upper end of the tubular section'to which it is attached by the chain 52 for insertion through the openings of the tubular section which is slidingly received within the section to which the chain is attached. In addition, the chain 52 serves as a convenient handle by means of which one tubular section can be slid out of its receiving tubular member.

In some instances the chain 52 and projections 42 can be relied upon to provide the stop means by which the telescoping movement of the tubular members into each other is prevented. In the preferred embodiment, however, projections 34 are provided on the bottom ends of the tubular members 25' and 27 to limit the extent to which the tubular members can be telescoped into each other, and the casting 30 abuts the top end of section 28' to limit the extent to which section 29' telescopes into section, 28. The projection 34 is formed by a pair of horizontal slits 54 formed adjacent the bottom end of a tubular member, and the portion 34' between the slits 54 is deformed radially inwardly so that the bottom end of the tubular member which is slidingly received within the tubular member having the projection 34' rests against the top edge of the projection 34'. The bottom end of the tubular member 23' is closed off by a plug 55 having a reduced diameter section 56 which is pressed into the bottom end of the tubular member 23' and a shoulder 57 which bears against the bottom end of the tubular section 23. In the lower position of the mast, the bottom end of the section 25 bears against the upper end of the reduced diameter section 56 of the plug 55.

The cup-shaped housing is generally similar to the housing 20 and differs from the housing 20 in that the tom of the halyard 62 in place.

6 bottom tubular member 23 is pressed into the opening in the bottom 24 and glued in place by an epoxy resin; and also in that the cover member 22' is hinged to the housing 20'. As shown in FIG. 12, the left side of the cover member 22 is cast with a pair of depending ears 58 which extend between the side legs 59 of a U-shaped bracket 60 that is an integral part of the housing 20'. A pin is pressed through openings (not shown) in the legs 59 and extend through other openings (not shown) in the cars 58, which openings have sufficient clearance with respect to the pin 61 to allow the ears 58 to turn freely thereon. A halyard 62 which passes through the opening 33' of the casting 30 is normally coiled around the upper telescoped ends of the tubular members when the tubular sections of the mast are telescoped into the housing 20.

It is intended that the fiag pole mast shown in the embodiment of FIGS. 1115 will be raised in generally the same manner as that described for the embodiment shown in FIGS. ll0. The chain 52 that is attached to the tubular section 25' will be grasped to raise the tubular sections 25, 27, 28 and 29', until the openings adjacent the lower end of the tubular member 25' are above the top of the tubular section 23. Tubular member 27 is raised slightly until its bottom ends are above the opening in the tubular member 25 and the pin 48 is thereafter inserted through the openings in the tubular member 25.

The halyard 62 is provided with a pair of spring closing hooks 63, only one of which is shown, adapted to be inserted through eyelets at the top and bottom of one side edge of a flag. The halyard will be adjusted so that the top hook 63 is adjacent the opening 33' and thereafter the tubular member 29 will be raised and the L-shaped pin 48 held by the chain connected to the section 28" is inserted through the openings and rotated so that its leg 49 points downwardly. Thereafter the section 28 is raised out of the section 27 and the pin 48 that is attached 'by the chain 52 to the section 27 is inserted through the openings in the bottom end of the section 28' to lock it in place. Finally, the section 27 is raised out of the tubular member 25 until the holes adjacent the bottom of the member 27' are above the top edge of the member 25, and the pin 48 attached to the member 25' is inserted through the openings in the bottom of the member 27. The length of the halyard 62 is either of the correct length or its length is suitably adjusted by a knot 64 so that its bottom end Will be opposite the pin 48 that bears against the top edge of the tubular member 25'. The pin 48' that is attached to the tubular member 25 is inserted with its handle portion 49 extending upwardly through the bottom loop of the halyard 62, and thereafter the handle 49 of the pin 48 is turned downwardly to secure the hot- The L-shaped pin 48 may in some instances have a single milled fiat similar to that of the pin 44 provided that it is of sufficient width, but is shown in the drawings as provided with a pair of spaced milled sections 65 that are spaced apart a distance corresponding with the width of the tubing on which the pin is to set.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not desired to be limited to the particular embodiments shown and described, and it is intended to cover hereby all novel adaptations, modifications, and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What we claim is:

1. A telescopic lmast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured to and extending t-hnough the bottom of said cup shaped housing, a cap secured to the top end of the smallest tubular member, said tubular members intermediate said top and bottom members having one side portion adjacent their top ends be-nt laterally outwardly, a plurality of nonrigid retaining members one end of each of which are secured to a respective one of said laterally bent portions of said tubular members, a plurality of generally L- shaped pins respective ones of which are secured to respective ones of said non-rigid retaining members, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof, the upper portion of said aligned openings :acting as abutment surfaces and the upper portions of each of said intermediate tubular members having upwardly facing abutment surfaces opposite which said aligned openings of the tubular member telescope-d therein can .bepositioned, said L-shaped pins having :a lateral leg adapted to bear against said upward- 1y facing abutment surfaces of the tubular member to which the pin is attached and extend through aligned openings of the tubular member which is slidingly received in the tubular member to which the pin is attached, each of said latera-l legs of each L-shaped pin having flat bottomed recess means against which said abutment surfaces of one of adjacent telescoping members is adapted to rest when the other leg of the pin projects downwardly, and the lateral leg of each pin having oppositely facing shoulders which abut opposite sides of one of the tulbular members when said other leg of the pin projects downwardly.

2. A telescopic mast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured to and extending through the bottom of said cup-shaped housing,

- a cap secured to the top end of the smallest tubular member, each of said tubular members intermediate said top and bottom members having one side portion adjacent their top ends bent late-rally outwardly, a plurality of non-rigid retaining members one end of each of which are secured to a respective one of said laterally bent portions of said tubular members, a plurality of generally L-shaped pins respective ones of which are secured to respective ones of said non-rigid retaining members, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof, the upper portion of said aligned openings acting as abutment surfaces and the upper portions of each of said intermediate tubular members having upwardly facing abutment surfaces opposite which said aligned openings of the tubular member telescoped therein can be positioned, said L- shaped pins having a lateral leg adapted to bear against said upwardly tacing abutment surfaces of the tubular member to which the pin is attached and extend through aligned openings of the tubular member which is slidingly received in the tubular member to which the pin is attached, the lateral leg of each L-shaped pin having flat bottomed recess means against which said abutment surfaces of one of adjacent telescoping members is adapted to rest when the other leg of the pin projects downwardly,

the lateral leg of each pin having oppositely facing shoulders which abut opposite sides of one of the tubular members when said other leg of the pin projects downwardly, a flexible loop member one end of which is attached to said cap, said loop being of such length as to be taut when the other end of said loop member is positioned beneath a lateral leg of one of said pins and the other leg of said pin is turned downwardly.

3. A telescopic rnast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured to and extending through the bottom of said cup-shaped housin a cap secured to the top end of the smallest tubular member, each of said tubular members intermediate said top and bottom members being of equal length and having one side portion adjacent their top ends bentlaterally outwardly and having a projection adjacent its bottom end bent inwardly, a plurality of non-rigid retaining members one end of each of which are secured to a respective one of said laterally outwardly bent portions of said tubular members, a plurality of generally L-shaped pins respective ones of which are secured to respective ones of said nonrigid retaining members, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof the upper portion of said aligned openings acting as abutment surfaces and the upper portions of each of said intermediate tubular members having upwardly facing abutment surfaces opposite which said aligned openings of the tubular member telescoped therein can be positioned, said L-shaped pins having a lateral leg adapted to bear against said upwardly facing abutment surfaces of the tubular member to which the pin is attached and extend through aligned openings of the tubular member which is slidingly received in the tubular member to which the pin is attached, each of said lateral legs of each L-shaped pin having flat bottomed recess means against which said abutment surfaces of one of adjacent telescoping members is adapted to rest when the other leg of the pin projects downwardly, and the lateral leg of each pin having oppositely facing shoulders which abut opposite sides of one of the tubular members to prevent withdrawal of the pin when said other leg of the pin projects downwardly.

4. A telescopic mast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured toand extending through the bottom of said cup-shaped housing, tubular members between said top and bottom members being of equal length and having projections adjacent their bottom ends bent inwardly, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof, and a plurality of pins respective ones of which are adapted to extend through aligned openings of a respective tubular member and abut the top end of the tubular member in which the respective tubular member is slidingly received.

5. A telescopic mast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured to and extending through the bottom of said cup-shaped housing, tubular members between said top and bottom members being of equal length and having projections adjacent their bottom ends bent inwardly, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof, a plurality of pins respective ones of which are adapted to extend through aligned openings of a respective tubular member and abut the top end of the tubular member in which the respective tubular member is slidingly received, said projections being formed by a pair of lateral slots in a tubular member with the metal between said slots bent inwardly.

6. A telescopic mast comprising: a cup-shaped housing with an open top end and a closed bottom end, a plurality of tubular members telescopically fitted together with the top end of the largest tubular member secured to and extending through the bottom of said cup-shaped housing, a cap secured to the top end of the smallest tubular member, tubular members between said top and bottom members being of equal length and having projections adjacent their bottom ends bent inwardly, each of said tubular members which project out of said largest tubular member having aligned openings through opposite sidewalls adjacent the lower ends thereof, a plurality of pins respective ones of which are adapted to extend through aligned openings of a respective tubular member and abut the top end of the tubular member in which the respective tubular member is slidingly received, the pin which bears against the top of the tube which projects out of the larg- 10 tube, respective ones of said slits being above and below a tab whose ends are integral with the tube, and said tab being bent radially inwardly to provide a stop limiting movement toward said bottom of the tube of a member inserted into said tube.

No references cited.

LOUIS I. CAPOZI, Primary Examiner. 

1. A TELESCOPIC MAST COMPRISING: A CUP-SHAPED HOUSING WITH AN OPEN TOP END AND A CLOSED BOTTOM END, A PLURALITY OF TUBULAR MEMBERS TELESCOPICALLY FITED TOGEHER WITH THE TOP END OF THE LARGEST TUBULAR MEMBER SECURED TO AND EXTENDING THROUGH THE BOTTOM OF SAID CUP-SHAPED HOUSING, A CAP SECURED TO THE TOP END OF THE SMALLEST TUBULAR MEMBER, SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS INTERMEDIATE SAID TOP AND BOTTOM MEMBERS HAVING ONE SIDE PORTION ADJACENT THEIR TOP ENDS BENT LATERALLY OUTWARDLY, A PLURALITY OF NONRIGID RETAINING MEMBERS ONE ENDDOF EACH OF WHICH ARE SECURED TO A RESPECTIVE ONE OF SAID LATERALLY BENT PORTIONS OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY LSHAPED PINS RESPECTIVE ONES OF WHICH ARE SECURED TO RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID NON-RIGID RETAINING MEMBERS, EACH OF SAID TUBULAR MEMBERS WHICH PROJECT OUT OF SAID LARGEST TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING ALIGNED OPENINGS THROUGH OPPOSITE SIDEWALLS ADJACENT THE LOWER ENDS THEREOF, THE UPPER PORTION OF SAID ALIGNED OPENINGS ACTING AS ABUTMENT SURFACES AND THE UPPER PORTIONS OF EACH OF SAID INTERMEDIATE TUBULAR MEMBERS HAVING UPWARDLY FACING ABUTMENT SURFACES OPPOSITE WHICH SAID ALIGNED OPENINGS OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER TELESCOPED THEREIN CAN BE POSITIONED, SAID L-SHAPED PINS HAVING A LATERAL LEG ADAPTED TO BEAR AGAINST SAID UPWARDLY FACING ABUTMENT SURFACES OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO WHICH THE PIN IS ATTACHED AND EXTEND THROUGH ALIGNED OPENINGS OF THE TUBULAR MEMBER WHICH IS SLIDINGLY RECEIVED IN THE TUBULAR MEMBER TO WHICH THE PIN IS ATTACHED, 